Visitation & Incarcerated Parents Workgroup

1. <?xml version="1.0"?><AllQuestions /> <?xml version="1.0"?><Settings><answerBulletFormat>Numeric</answerBulletFormat><answerNowAutoInsert>No</answerNowAutoInsert><answerNowStyle>Explosion</answerNowStyle><answerNowText>Answer Now</answerNowText><chartColors>Use PowerPoint Color Scheme</chartColors><chartType>Horizontal</chartType><correctAnswerIndicator>Checkmark</correctAnswerIndicator><countdownAutoInsert>No</countdownAutoInsert><countdownSeconds>10</countdownSeconds><countdownSound>TicToc.wav</countdownSound><countdownStyle>Box</countdownStyle><gridAutoInsert>No</gridAutoInsert><gridFillStyle>Answered</gridFillStyle><gridFillColor>255,255,0</gridFillColor><gridOpacity>100%</gridOpacity><gridTextStyle>Keypad #</gridTextStyle><inputSource>Response Devices</inputSource><multipleResponseDivisor># of Responses</multipleResponseDivisor><participantsLeaderBoard>5</participantsLeaderBoard><percentageDecimalPlaces>0</percentageDecimalPlaces><responseCounterAutoInsert>No</responseCounterAutoInsert><responseCounterStyle>Oval</responseCounterStyle><responseCounterDisplayValue># of Votes Received</responseCounterDisplayValue><insertObjectUsingColor>Blue</insertObjectUsingColor><showResults>Yes</showResults><teamColors>User Defined</teamColors><teamIdentificationType>None</teamIdentificationType><teamScoringType>Voting pads only</teamScoringType><teamScoringDecimalPlaces>1</teamScoringDecimalPlaces><teamIdentificationItem></teamIdentificationItem><teamsLeaderBoard>5</teamsLeaderBoard><teamName1></teamName1><teamName2></teamName2><teamName3></teamName3><teamName4></teamName4><teamName5></teamName5><teamName6></teamName6><teamName7></teamName7><teamName8></teamName8><teamName9></teamName9><teamName10></teamName10><showControlBar>Slides with Get Feedback Objects</showControlBar><defaultCorrectPointValue>100</defaultCorrectPointValue><defaultIncorrectPointValue>0</defaultIncorrectPointValue><chartColor1>187,224,227</chartColor1><chartColor2>51,51,153</chartColor2><chartColor3>0,153,153</chartColor3><chartColor4>153,204,0</chartColor4><chartColor5>128,128,128</chartColor5><chartColor6>0,0,0</chartColor6><chartColor7>0,102,204</chartColor7><chartColor8>204,204,255</chartColor8><chartColor9>255,0,0</chartColor9><chartColor10>255,255,0</chartColor10><teamColor1>187,224,227</teamColor1><teamColor2>51,51,153</teamColor2><teamColor3>0,153,153</teamColor3><teamColor4>153,204,0</teamColor4><teamColor5>128,128,128</teamColor5><teamColor6>0,0,0</teamColor6><teamColor7>0,102,204</teamColor7><teamColor8>204,204,255</teamColor8><teamColor9>255,0,0</teamColor9><teamColor10>255,255,0</teamColor10><displayAnswerImagesDuringVote>Yes</displayAnswerImagesDuringVote><displayAnswerImagesWithResponses>Yes</displayAnswerImagesWithResponses><displayAnswerTextDuringVote>Yes</displayAnswerTextDuringVote><displayAnswerTextWithResponses>Yes</displayAnswerTextWithResponses><questionSlideID></questionSlideID><controlBarState>Expanded</controlBarState><isGridColorKnownColor>True</isGridColorKnownColor><gridColorName>Yellow</gridColorName><AutoRec></AutoRec><AutoRecTimeIntrvl></AutoRecTimeIntrvl><chartVotesView>Percentage</chartVotesView><chartLabelsColor>0,0,0</chartLabelsColor><isChartLabelColorKnownColor>True</isChartLabelColorKnownColor><chartLabelColorName>Black</chartLabelColorName><chartXAxisLabelType>Full Text</chartXAxisLabelType></Settings> <?xml version="1.0"?><AllAnswers /> Visitation & Incarcerated Parents Workgroup Report to the Pennsylvania State Children’s Roundtable May 27, 2011 Harrisburg, PA

2. How We Got Started Last year: • Part of Fatherhood Engagement • Preliminary Report to SRT in May 2010 recommended expansion/new workgroup

3. How We Got Started • Visitation—issues not limited to dads • Purpose: • Identify & develop best practices • Make recommendations about frequency, quality, who visits, supervision & location of visits

4. How We Got Started • Incarcerated Parents—issues apply to moms as well • Purpose: • Identify & develop best practices, • Develop protocol for engagement

5. How We Got Started • Make recommendations about visitation & engagement in: • Case Planning • Delivery of Services • Court Process

6. Visitation Is a Right—Not a Privilege! Importance of Visitation • Eases Trauma of Separation • Helps to Preserve or Develop Bond • Frequent, Meaningful, Quality Visitation=Predictor of Reunification!!

7. Visitation Is a Right—Not a Privilege! Importance of Visitation • Provides Opportunity for Ongoing Assessment • Provides Parents w/ opportunity to learn, improve, develop & practice parenting

8. Visitation Is a Right—Not a Privilege! Importance of Visitation • Eases Parents’ Concerns About the care the children are receiving • Visitation honors the existing bond, while providing a safe environment • Communicates that family is important

9. Who Should Visit? • Parents • Siblings (Act 115) • Grandparents • Aunts & Uncles • Mentors • Others • Parents whose rights have been terminated (Act 101)

10. The Importance of Fathers Barriers • No prior involvement • Focus of agency & court on mothers

11. The Importance of Fathers Barriers • Mothers are resistant • Fathers do not respond to traditional outreach

12. The Importance of Fathers • It is in the child’s best interest (in most cases) to have regular contact with father • Use other forms of contact, in addition to visits

13. The Importance of Fathers • Use FGDM to involve fathers • Think outside of the box to ensure visits with fathers are meaningful!

14. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Infants & Toddlers • First Visit—within 72 hours of removal • Minimum of 3 visits per week • Daily visits for new-borns & infants, if possible

15. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Infants & Toddlers • Kinship caregivers, if possible • Foster home close to the parents

16. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Children Ages 5 to 12 • First Visit—within 72 hours of removal • Consider child’s activities—Decrease frequency & increase duration

17. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Children Ages 5 to 12 • Collateral Activities • Discourage visits @ child’s discretion • Minimum of once per week

18. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Children Ages 13 to 17 • First Visit—within 72 hours of removal • Consider child’s independence and wishes

19. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Children Ages 13 to 17 • Discourage visits @ child’s discretion • At least once per week • Let the visit end naturally

20. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Children Ages 18 to 21 Visits at their discretion

21. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Other Considerations • Safety is primary consideration • Reunification—move quickly from supervised to unsupervised to overnight to extended

22. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Other Considerations • Other meaningful contact (calls, letters, school activities, etc.) • Large sibling groups—consider separating

23. Frequency, Duration & Intensity of Visits Other Considerations • Sibling visits should occur at least twice per month • Visitation plan should address visits with others.

24. Role of the Court Judicial Oversight is Key!! • Shelter Hearing—If visits have not occurred, court should order • If agency recommends supervised visits, court should ask WHY?

25. Role of the Court • In deciding WHERE child is placed—consider HOW it will impact on ability to visit • Judge should state on the record visitation plan and expectations

26. Role of the Court Court order should set forth: • Supervision (& reasons) • Frequency & duration • Location • Whether a Report is required

27. Role of the Court Court order should set forth: • Who will transport • Assistance to parents • Sibling visits • Visits with others

28. Role of the Court • Judge should also order other contacts • If visitation plan has not been followed, judge should ask WHY and consider “no reasonable efforts”, if appropriate

29. Role of the Court • At every hearing, the judge should examine the plan and change, if appropriate • If visits are observed or therapeutic, judge should ask about changes or improvements

30. Role of the Court • Judge should always ask the child about the visits • Never withhold visitation as punishment: Visitation is a Right—Not a Privilege!

31. Supervision & Oversight • Supervision—reason related to physical, mental, or emotional safety • Oversight—specific, documented reason needed • Supervision should NOT be the “default” position

32. Supervision & Oversight • If supervised, there should be a plan to move to unsupervised when goal is reunification • Visits should never occur at the discretion of the agency

33. Supervision & Oversight Unsupervised visits—preferred Entirely Supervised—Sight & Sound • Documented safety concerns • Physical, sexual, emotional abuse • Pressure to recant testimony • Risk to abscond

34. Supervision & Oversight • Visitation Supervisors should be trained • If safety concerns can be addressed without constant supervision, consider a less restrictive level—example: change location

35. Supervision & Oversight Therapeutic Visits • Facilitated by a licensed therapist • Appropriate where parent/child have strained relationship, child is witness to or victim of abuse, where parent lacks understanding of child’s mental, emotional, physical & social development

36. Supervision & Oversight Structured Visits • Helps parents develop parenting skills • Facilitator should be neutral trained person • Facilitator provides feedback & intervention & assists in developing visitation plan

37. Supervision & Oversight Monitored & Observed Visits • Needed if court wants a report • Appropriate to ensure that there are no safety concerns—is parent under the influence or sober

38. Supervision & Oversight Who Should Supervise? • Anyone—consider the reasons for the supervision • Parent & child should be comfortable with the supervisor • Same person should supervise each time • Same person should transport

39. Supervision & Oversight Training for Supervisors • Intervention techniques • Understanding the normal reactions & behaviors of children & parents before, during & after visits • Proper Parenting techniques

40. Supervision & Oversight • Redirection techniques • Family dynamics • Communication skills • Cultural competency & awareness • Proper feedback

41. Supervision & Oversight Evaluation & Assessment • Visitation supervisor should testify in court • Agencies should develop an evaluation tool • Feedback should be given immediately & should include STRENGTHS as well as areas for improvement

42. Supervision & Oversight Special Concerns/Circumstances • Domestic Abuse • Sexual Abuse • Children in Group Homes • Parent or Child with Special Needs

43. Location of Visits Location, Location, Location—Does it Matter? • Parents’ Home • Community • Foster Home • Visitation Center • Agency Visiting Room • Other Contacts

44. Quality of Visitation • Preparation for Visitation—What’s the plan? • Feedback and Debriefing • Visit Coaching

45. Goodbye/Moving On Visits • Held after TPR • Not just another visit • Helps provide a sense of closure • Parent accepts responsibility and reassures that TPR is not child’s fault • Preparation is essential • Trained facilitator is essential

46. Goodbye/Moving On Visits • Location is important • Not appropriate in all cases—consider • Dangerous/disruptive behavior of a parent at prior visits • No contact orders • Refusal of parent to participate in planning of the visits • Child’s therapist says no • Refusal of child or parent to participate

47. Best Practices Model Programs • Visit Coaching • Bridging the Gap • Visitation Houses (Indiana, Washington, Westmoreland) • Visit Hosting

48. Best Practices Model Programs • Arsenal Therapeutic Visitation Program (Allegheny) • Project PACT Rapid Reunification (Beaver)

49. Incarcerated ParentsEngagement In Case Planning Protocol for Agency • CW should meet w/parent • CW should ask about relative caregivers • Attempt to ascertain release date so that case plan includes discharge plan

50. Incarcerated ParentsEngagement In Case Planning Protocol for Agency • CW should explain court process to parent and provide info on representation • If the FSP was made prior to incarceration, it should be amended to include goals for the incarcerated parent • CW should notify the parent of all meeting and hearings